Our View: Prosecute food stamp violators

Because of the well-documented hunger problem in northeastern Louisiana, we're somewhat careful about leveling criticism at those who receive public assistance to purchase food.

But, we agree with state Treasurer John Kennedy that there is fraud within the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and prosecution of that fraud should be stepped up.

SNAP recipients don't have to tear off coupons at the cash register any more. They've got debit cards. So you really don't know if the person in front of you in the checkout line is a food-stamp recipient unless they attempt to purchase an ineligible item and the store's computer system is sophisticated enough to detect that.

But when computers fail, and they do, it can become a free-for-all.

The state's taxpayers were horrified last October by news reports that the electronic benefit transfer system in a number of states failed, and store shelves in Springhill and Mansfield were emptied by those who took that opportunity to steal.

Just this week, the state's Department of Children and Family Services reported it has disqualified six SNAP recipients who attempted to use their benefit cards to make purchases during the October system failure. The agency has started the process to disqualify an additional 25 SNAP recipients.

"Our investigations and disqualification process have been thorough and methodical to ensure that the abusers are properly disqualified," said DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier. "This is a unique type of fraud compared to the cases we usually encounter."

The department reviewed transactions made by 12,000 clients and determined that some were made by people who were no longer eligible for the program or who did not have sufficient funds in their balance to pay for the goods purchased.

DCFS' Fraud and Recovery Unit began pursing the 500 most egregious transgressors, who attempted to spend $315,386 that they did not have available in benefits. The agency has received 113 responses and scheduled 109 interviews.

DCFS has shared the information with state law enforcement officials, including the Louisiana State Police, the Louisiana attorney general and all of the state's district attorneys, so that officials could begin their own investigations to determine if any criminal laws were violated.

These agencies must step up and prosecute these cases where criminal activity is involved.

Today, according to Kennedy, there are 900,000 people on food stamps in Louisiana, up from 650,000 in 2008. The program costs $1.5 billion, up from $836 million in 2008.

In May 2013, the Louisiana legislative auditor audited DCFS' administration of the food stamp program in Louisiana and found in 2012 DCFS gave $750,000 in food stamps to 322 people who made more than $50,000 a year and gave food stamps to 3,060 people who spent most of the money ($2.06 million) in other states, suggesting they don't live in Louisiana.

In 2011 and 2012, the legislative auditor found DCFS gave $1.1 million in food stamps to 1,761 people who were in jail and gave $107,864 in food stamps to 84 convicted and therefore ineligible drug felons.

From March 2010 to March 2011, DCFS gave food stamps to 1,573 people who were double-dipping by receiving food stamps in Louisiana and another state, Kennedy said.

Those numbers suggest the issue of fraud is far deeper than those who took advantage of a one-day computer failure and filled up a grocery cart.

And they also suggest the program could be substantially smaller if fraud prosecution was more stringent, both on the state and local levels.

"I give the Department of Children and Family Services credit, but we've got to do more. It's human nature. If you don't enforce your laws, people aren't going to abide by them. In order to protect the integrity of the food system program and be fair to the people who are playing by the rules and be fair to the taxpayers, whenever people get caught lying, cheating or stealing to get food stamps, they must lose their food stamps and they'll be prosecuted," Kennedy said.

We might suggest Attorney General Buddy Caldwell work with DCFS to add investigative resources and delve deep into this issue. If the word gets out that you will go to jail if you commit fraud against the system, and offenders are vigorously prosecuted, the taxpayers of Louisiana will benefit.

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Our View: Prosecute food stamp violators

Because of the well-documented hunger problem in northeastern Louisiana, we're somewhat careful about leveling criticism at those who receive public assistance to purchase food.